Updated blog theme

It must be that time of year again – Law Actually’s gotten a makeover.

It’s not a massive change; it retains the same template structure but has thankfully lost the energy-sapping browns and creams of the previous design. The new style uses a background image available through blogger rather than some concoction of my own, and while a high speed train isn’t perhaps a totally natural fit, the colours work well for me.

The theme remains a work in progress and I intend to add a few tweaks here and there going forward.

The previous Law Actually design was always a bit of a half-assed rush-job, thrown up in response to my massive blog breakdown 12 months ago.

Thankfully, this change is a happier one.  Let’s hope it remains that way.

It’s getting kind of quiet around here…

I’ve just been clearing out / sorting some more of my Google Reader subscriptions.  What the hell has happened to the ‘blawgosphere’? 

The legal bloggers who I always regarded as ‘old timers’ are looking a bit thin on the ground suddenly, and those who are still about, haven’t updated in a while.

I’m scared to speak too loudly in case it echoes! 

You’ll be telling me there’s tumbleweed rolling down the road next…

Ah – crap!

Do you worry about your performance as a blogger?

There was an Interesting debate on Windows Weekly a few weeks ago in which Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott and Mary-Jo Foley briefly touched upon what it means to be a blogger. (Oh, and is it just me, or is Windows Weekly just not the same now?)

Anyhow, according to Leo, blogging is an obsession - and not always a healthy one.  Speaking for myself, I don’t know whether ‘obsession’ is the right word, but it’s certainly a labour of love.

I think it’s important not to hang on too tightly.  I’ve always made a point of only blogging when I feel like it. If blogging becomes a chore, what’s the point?

According to Leo, any self-respecting blogger sweats over their posts, is surgically attached to their computer keyboard, and dwells over what they have written (to the point of getting up in the middle of the night to correct an erroneous post). Casting a quick glance around the UK blawgosphere (which is starting to look a bit frayed around the edges – let’s be honest), I can’t see many of us doing that.

But it does beg the question: do you worry about your performance as a blogger? Do you start getting the willies if your blog traffic starts to fall?

The week my blog died

Don’t worry: it’s been resuscitated.

My traffic levels have dropped through the floor this past week - prompting a full scale inquiry. Ahem.

I’m not going to go into the ins and outs of exactly what happened (I can’t be bothered to, quite frankly) but let’s just say there was a fundamental problem with my blog template code which was producing a significant lag on loading and I lacked the knowledge, ability and patience to adequately fix it.

So, I’ve had to doctor one of blogger’s new rather awful looking templates.

I don’t know: the longer I stay with blogger the more disenchanted I become. I’m happy to move to another provider and pay for something decent and, with that in mind, reactivated my squarespace account which I see I opened in July 2008.

If and when I find a way of moving my blog over without my pagerank dropping off a cliff, I might just do it. Maybe I should finally move over to my custom domain (instead of just redirecting) and then export the whole thing over to squarespace. I see squarespace provides for SEO preservation of custom domain imports, though I’ve no idea how effective it is and I think there will be a fair amount of drop off. 

What I do know for certain is that blogger has given me the frickin’ squits these last few days and I don’t think I can forgive and forget.

Anyway, apologies for the rather sloppy new template but I’m stuck with it for now.  It’s very loosely based on a theme that I had planned to introduce this summer anyway but I was hoping to produce something half decent before letting it loose.

I’ll see how it goes over the next few weeks before making a final decision.  Let’s hope I don’t have to pull the plug entirely.  ;-)

Happy Birthday Law Actually

Yep, they come around quickly, don’t they? Law Actually is 4 today!

I created and started the blog, Law Actually, on 19th February 2007, and an awful lot has happened in the blawgosphere during these four years. We’ve all seen a lot of blawggers come and go, whilst some of the respected stalwarts have stuck it out and continue to go from strength to strength. I guess Law Actually is somewhere in the middle.

Sometimes, now more than ever, I struggle a bit to find the time to keep updating Law Actually as often as I’d like, but that struggle is worth suffering in my opinion.  Blogging is still something I enjoy and have always found strangely therapeutic for whatever reason.

I’ve tried to ‘do my bit’ in reinforcing the camaraderie in the UK blawgsphere over the last 12 months.  I’ve continued to flag-up newbie bloggers as I stumble across them (check out the previous post for the latest) and my blawgin’ lovin’ campaign, remote interviews and co-hosted 2010 Blawggies (with Andro and Law Minx) all went down a storm.  Well, kind of.

I still intend to be about and actively blogging for a while yet. Will I make it to the big 5 years in 12 months’ time? Who knows?  I hope so. 

But what ever happens, I hope you, faithful reader, will be tagging along for the ride.

Why should blog spammers get a free lunch?

Although spam has been one of the scourges of the internet for several years, most spam filters are now good enough for you not to have to worry (or even think) about it.  That’s certainly true of Gmail.  Spam comments on blogs, however, are a very different matter.

All bloggers must be hit by this menace – I know I am.  Most of us make use of word verification technology to help prevent spam attacks from bots but this does nothing to stop somebody sitting in India who’s being paid to repeatedly add spam comments to a blog post for SEO purposes.  For whatever reason, today’s been a particularly bad one on Law Actually; they’ve been spamming the s**t out of me.

Unless and until the spam filter functionality which blogspot recently started featuring gets a lot better, the only effective way of combating it is a very manual approach - by deleting the offending comments.  That’s not great, but doing nothing is definitely not an option.

I’ve always regarded a blog as more of a dynamic conversational thing compared to a static webpage, so the readers’ comments are just as valuable as the post itself.  Rather than me having to approve each and every comment before it goes live on Law Actually, I just make commenters jump through the word verification hoop and once done, their contribution appears for the world to see.  That way, it’s a less stilted, more real-time flow of ideas. 

But every bloggers secret weapon should be email alerts. I get an alert every time a new comment is made on any of my posts and I’ll delete any I regard as spam immediately.  Sometimes, it’s an endless battle but as fast as these irksome spammers hit on me, I delete their false and link-ridden ‘comments’. 

In spite of the warm glow of victory having momentarily defeated a spammer, blog comment spam really winds me up.  Why should bloggers give away a valuable commodity to the parasitic businesses who want to freeload on our respective pageranks as a means of boosting their own Google rankings?  I’ve no objection to those who are willing to pay for it, but I realise that some bloggers feel that monetising their blogs somehow sullies them.  I’m less concerned about that; my overriding feeling is that I simply hate people who are always looking for something for free.

The attempts of some spammers to segue their seedy links into the post topic are hilarious, but most are just offensive through their sheer stupidity.  Comments to a blog post are really not the place to ‘thank me for sharing’ followed by whatever random link(s) the spammer is touting.  Nor are they the place to tell the world that XXXX are the best personal injury lawyers in [insert name of town/city/locale].  And if you offer cheap and fast conveyancing, I really don’t want to hear about it in the comments section on a blog.

But there’s another reason why all bloggers should make a concerted effort to combat the scourge of spam comments.  There’s nothing more depressing than seeing a blog plastered with text and links filling up half of the comments on any post.   It makes it look cheap, uncared for and with a dirty habit.  It’s the blogging equivalent of having track marks up your forearm.  Surely you wouldn’t want that for your blog? 

So please, learned blawggers of the ‘sphere, if you haven’t already set up en email alert for comments, do so now, and as far as spam comments are concerned, operate a shoot-to-kill policy.

Together we can kick these spammers where it hurts!

A Law Actually Interview with… Charon QC

Although my remote interview series isn’t making a comeback, the inimitable Charon QC was very much on my shortlist last time around.  It might have taken a little while to make it happen, but I think you’ll find couched within his answers, a fascinating insight into one of the blawgosphere’s most prolific, quirky and respected blawggers. 

Anyway, let’s get straight to the questions:

What’s the story behind the (now legendary) blawg, Charon QC?  How did it first come about?

Having been a law teacher for 30 years - and founding BPP Law School with BPP Holdings PLC in the early 1990s - I have always been interested in writing.  Writing law books for students is a pleasure - but not exactly a barrel of laughs.  There aren't that many laughs in the Law of Contract, sale of Goods or Civil and Human Rights Law.

After leaving BPP I was free from constraints.  I started the character Charon QC in 2003 or thereabouts after a couple of years amusing myself and meeting some great people on Roll on Friday.  I was Judge Jeffries on RoF for a while and then re-invented myself as Brigadier Grappa.

Nick Holmes suggested that I used Wordpress to blog in 2006, rather than html on my magazine.  It was good advice. 

I chose the name *Charon* - The Ferryman - because I rather liked the idea of ferrying lawyers to Hades.  I have, in fact, got a wide range of brothers, cousins, sisters in the *Charon family*.  Cardinal Charoni di Tempranillo - a Vatican expert in money laundering and exorcism - makes appearances from time to time. Rex Charon MP, Charon MD - very occasionally, and... my extremely dull brother, professor R.D. Charon, an embittered academic, who has spent his life writing articles of little merit or interest and books no-one actually reads and which don't even get into the remainder bin.

My *About* section on the blog explains much - I am not anonymous, but could, possibly, be Hieronymus.

You’re probably the most prolific blawgger in the ‘sphere (and would no doubt be adjudged to have significant market power) ;-)  but where do you get all of your blawgging energy from?  Put another way, what motivates you as a blawgger?

As you know - because you kindly removed me from your awards listings, I have absolutely no interest in influence, awards etc. - save for those I award myself (or John Bolch's Oscars on Family Lore - but John is an old mate) - so I would not wish to claim market power and certainly do not seek it. 

I write as I find.  Sometimes, in the mornings and afternoons (weekdays only) I am sober.  I write vaguely sensible stuff then in the form of Law reviews and, of course, I enjoy my podcasts.  At night... well.... as the mood takes me.  I enjoy satire and parody.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn't.

I am a frustrated artist - hence my use of pics/painting et al.  My headmaster (called a *Warden* - I went to Glenalmond, a detention centre of great repute in Perthshire, Scotland) told me there was no money in art.  Well, he was wrong.  I don't make any money from my F**kArt (at least, not yet!) but tell that to Damien and Tracey.

I only sleep for four hours a day.  I blog because I enjoy it - and never blog if I don't wish to.  Energy is, therefore, not required!

I have one motivation - and that is to ensure that legal education is properly done and that the rule of Law is upheld.  As I cannot influence either of these things other than through the medium of blogging these days - I do so, as best I can, by blogging.  I am fortunate that a fair number actually read my blog and tolerate it. Some groan.

You adopt a very satirical approach to blawgging.  Is that just a reflection of your personality or was this a conscious decision for the direction of your blawg?

I have a warped sense of humour.  I blame my father.  He was a Scot... he is dead now. I was a bit worried, given the fantastic quantities of whisky he drank while alive, that the cremation could be a bit awkward in terms of explosions - but... it was fine.  I am a Scot, and I am still alive.  I enjoy parody and satire.  I try not to be unkind on my blog or on twitter.  I believe that manners are important.  I will not tolerate people slagging me off - so why should I tolerate commenters on twitter or on my blog slagging others off.  Parody has advantages.  I do use Muttley Dastardly LLP to comment on the more unusual aspects of the legal profession.  Ironically - it is probably the most widely read part of the blog!

I also learned a long time ago not to confuse intelligence with education.  I used to tell my students that we do not come down the mountain with tablets of stone.  There is a very good reason, I told them, why we might know a bit more law - because we have been doing it longer.  I did add that if you don't know more law when you leave - there are fascinating careers elsewhere.

How important are comments and feedback to you?  Have they shaped the development of Charon QC?

I always appreciate those who take the time to comment on my blog.  Sadly - with the advent of twitter - comments are less frequent, because people tend to comment or discuss points on twitter.  Unfortunately, a lot of people who read my blog are not on Twitter so do not see the excellent points being made by some commenters on the issues I raise.  I like to raise issues - I do not have the answers - but, sometimes, the commenters on the blog and on twitter do.

Do they influence me?  Not directly - but almost certainly, indirectly.  I am always open to new thinking, ideas and knowledge.  I learn a lot from the expertise of those who do read my blog - and that is one of the real pleasures of blogging.  I have done over 250 serious podcasts with some remarkable lawyers.  One learns a lot through the views and experience of others.

I am certainly not influenced by *Dark Forces* and, as far as I know... I blog without *fear or (and of) favour*

What was your best blawgging experience of all time?

Yet to come!  I am an optimist and rarely look back... I hope that it can only be more fun in the future....

The Blawggies 2010 - The Afterparty

So, the blawggies 2010 has been and gone and it’s time to take stock. When I casually suggested resurrecting the blawggies, I’d no idea what kind of adventure we were in for. Doing things democratically and letting the ‘sphere vote for the winners was always going to be an interesting decision.  It wasn’t pretty at times – believe me – but it was a useful experience.

The blawggies were always meant to be about celebrating all that’s good in the ‘sphere, accentuating the positive and marking the contribution that individual blawggers make to the common cause. God knows what will happen next year, if the blawgosphere hasn’t imploded by then, but for now, blawggers everywhere should savour this moment of camaraderie. 
                                                           
Andro, Minxy and I managed the organisational duties between us quite well, I thought – particularly given the barrage of spam, abuse and dubious voting practices we endured. Crucially, though, the blawggies had a great response – and that’s what really mattered. What’s more, those few who did their darnest to skew the ratings, only did so because they care; they care about their blawgs, their status as blawggers and, by extension, the blawgosphere as a whole.

Alas, we didn’t manage to hold the ceremony on twitter in which each winner gave an embarrassing acceptance speech in 140 characters or less. Nor did the much-anticipated VIP after-party come to pass…

… The blawggies after-party, for those of you who weren’t invited, was great. What started out as a civilised and erudite celebration of all things blawg-related, inevitably degenerated into a drunken and lascivious free-for-all. Fuelled on by a truck-load of vodka and goodness knows what else, impromptu tournaments of unsavoury drinking games were quickly established. As some managed to salvage what little dignity they could and left, the remaining attendees decamped to the venue’s hot tubs - after which propriety crumbled away yet further. Sadly, I’ve no idea who ‘did who’, ‘took what’ or gave the waiting paparazzi the best crotch-shot of the evening as they stumbled drunkenly out of the club and onto the street. Nevertheless, I’m sure a great time was had by all.

Sounds like quite a party! Maybe next year?

Blawggies 2010–The Results

Yep, the votes have been checked and double-checked and here are the results of the winner and runner-up in each category:

Best Newcomer

1. Your Law Student

2. Ups and Gowns

Best Design

1. Barmaid

2. Aimless Wanderer

Best Blawging Regular

1. Law Actually

2. Travis the Trout

Best supporting role

1. Legally Ginge

2. Anya

Best Legal Commentary

1. Pink Tape

2. The IPKat

Triumph over Adversity

1. Lawminx

2. Aimless Wanderer

Blawg of the Year

1. Android's Reminiscences & Marilyn Stowe Family Law and Divorce Blog

2. Pupillage and how to get it

Services to Blawging

1. Law Actually

2. Android's Reminiscences

Well done to everyone! 

Award badges are available for display on your blawgs – just email Andro, Minxy or I if you’re interested.

A Law Actually Interview with… BabyBarista

The legendary babybarista is next up to face the questions. 

How did BabyBarista come about?  Did you just wake up one morning and think, “I’ll start a legal blog today”?
I’d dreamt of writing a novel but struggled to imagine how it might come about. I’d written or co-written a bunch of law books but it was a pretty big jump to think about fiction. The next step was through co-writing a motivational book entitled ‘Why Lawyers Should Surf’ (xpl Publishing, 2007) with Dr Michelle Tempest which suggested the possibility of lawyers looking for inspiration outside of law and used surfing and the power of the ocean as metaphors for living the day to day. When this was done I very much wanted to sit down and write a legal thriller. But instead what popped out was a legal comedy about a fictional young barrister doing pupillage. I called him BabyBarista which was a play on words based on his first impression being that his coffee-making skills were probably as important to that year as any forensic legal abilities he may have. It’s a strange thing to say but I discovered that this bold, irreverent and mischievous voice along with a collection of colourful characters had simply jumped into my head and the words started pouring onto the page.

Yours is arguably the most famous blawg in the UK blawgosphere?  Do you ever feel pressure to continually think-up great content and do you worry about your readership levels?
I love having the blog as an outlet for my writing both at The Guardian and on my own site. There’s something about the immediacy of blogging which is a great attraction. You think up what you want to say, write it down and a few clicks later it’s available to the whole world. I think if you enjoy writing about something then it’s a lot more likely the readers will follow.

Your blawg features some great cartoons by Alex Williams.  How important are images in blawg posts do you think?
Alex Williams’ brilliant cartoons are a relatively new addition to the blog and yet already in my view they are absolutely integral to it. That reflects specifically on Alex’s skill at not only having captured the characters about which I had written but also having given them visual form that personally I hadn’t been able to quite imagine until seeing them from him. He’s also captured the humour wonderfully which I think reflects the fact that we both find similar things funny. All that has led to a wonderful cross-fertilisation of creativity which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. But above all, it’s a massive privilege to be working with so distinguished a cartoonist and animator as Alex.

What’s the most satisfying aspect of blawgging for you?
Beyond the immediacy of publication I also love the fact that writing a blog allows you to sound off on whatever particular issue takes your fancy on that particular day. I particularly enjoy doing this through the voices of fictional characters which I feel gives me even more freedom to express than if it were simply through my own personal voice.
Can being a blawgger make you a better lawyer?
I don’t know whether it makes you a better lawyer or not. For my part, I’ve taken a break from the law for over two and a half years now and a big part of that break has been writing the BabyBarista books which came originally from the blog.

Tim Kevan is a barrister and writer and author of Law and Disorder (Bloomsbury). For more information about Tim Kevan visit The Barrister Blog. 

Copyright Jay Stirzaker

A Law Actually Interview with… Lisa Hutch – (The Trials)

Most members of the UK blawgosphere probably aren’t too familiar with Lisa’s blawg, but I’ve been following her for a couple of years or so now.  It’s nice to get an alternative perspective from the blawgosphere and, being Canadian, Lisa provides a very welcome breath of fresh air.

UK blawgers who have typically eschewed the US blawgosphere (for whatever reason) should definitely take a look at Lisa’s blawg - as there are undoubtedly more similarities than differences to the UK approach to blawgging.

As a bonus, UK lawyers who are ‘getting on in years’ will no doubt be tickled by the fact that Canada still have ‘articles’ as part of the entry route to becoming a lawyer and clearly haven’t succumbed to the pressure to attach to modern, plain (and very dull) labels to esteemed conventions. Good on them!

Rest assured, there’s not a single reference to a ‘training contract’ in sight!

Anyway, let’s get to the questions:

How did you get into blawging?
When I made the decision to go to law school, I began to scour the internet for information about what law school was "really" like.  I couldn't find very much at all.  There were a few student blawgs, but many of them were older or were inactive.  I decided that I would start my own law school blawg, and attempt to document my experience as accurately as possible in the hope that it would help out other people looking for this type of information.

There aren't many Canadian student blawgers out there; what other blawgs do you tend to visit?
I visit the ones on my blog roll quite regularly, which includes the blawgs of various law practices and a faculty blawg from the U of A.  I like visiting the Precedent, but sometimes find that the material is very centered around Ontario in particular, rather than being aimed at a wider Canadian readership.  I also like SLAW.

Do you think that being a blawger can make someone a better law student?
Definitely.  In looking for interesting subject matter to post about, I paid far more attention to my law school experience.  I went to different lectures that were offered, in looking forward to being able to post about them.  I paid more attention to what I was doing in class, so that I could comment on it.  I remember posting something on my blawg about an error in the CANS that some of us had been using when we were studying for finals, which other students actually told me that they appreciated.  I also paid more attention to law in the news.  Made for a richer experience, and definitely made me a better law student.

Do you think you'll carry on blawging for years to come - even when you start practicing?
Already am!  As time and energy allow, I will continue blawging.  The connections that I build through blawging are just too valuable to give up.

A Law Actually Interview with… Travis the Trout

Next up is Travis – let’s dive straight in:

Travis the Trout is an unusual moniker – and perhaps not the most flattering out there. What’s the background story?
It was something my dad came up with back in 2000 when I was trying to think of a unique/quirky email address. He had been to Texas and bought a singing fish - which happened to be called travis the trout - he suggested it, the email address was available and the name kind of stuck. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3a-vLnzno)

So as you can see completely random, nothing relating to law and it makes everyone think I am a boy.

You’ve had a blog on both Blogspot and Wordpress. Which platform would you recommend for most UK blawgers and why?
Both Blogger and Wordpress were enjoyable to use. I started on blogspot because I originally had a foodie blog with blogger and i loved it. I changed over when I got restless, and wanted a new look. I don't really recommend one over the other, they are both straightforward to use for anyone new to Blawging and both have potential - after all it is the content which makes a blog so great rather than the platform. I know most UK blawgers tend to use blogger, but Wordpress has been great because I could simply set it up and leave it without wasting the time constantly tweaking it (not that you can't do that with blogger). Although the restless side of me is debating a change for my 2 year anniversary.

You recently announced that you’ve secured a training contract for a couple of years’ time. Congratulations! :-) But do you think this will change your approach to blawging or even make you pull an ASP Bites type move and throw in the towel completely?
I love blogging, so that is not going to change. I was gutted when Asp left us. With a severe lack of trainee blogs (although I can understand why) I think it is important that there is information (not firm sponsored) out there. Particularly as I am doing my TC at a smaller more niche firm (which will be a scary contrast to my current large full service firm) as I don't think that the smaller firms get much exposure. Obviously, I won't talk about work-specific things and I may end up taking a different approach when it comes down to it - but I am certainly not giving up without a fight.

You do an awful-lot of self-help type posts, largely centred around organisation and career-advancing topics. What is it about these subjects you find so stimulating?
After getting through a nightmare that my life was during my degree, it was great to start the LPC and work together as a team with the other students. We all helped each other which was a stark contrast to the competitiveness I experienced during my Undergraduate, where after a period of some time off, I struggled to catch up because everyone was so unhelpful and unwilling to share notes etc. And I don't believe that this is what being a law student/lawyer is about.

On the LPC we had a lot of fun, and we experienced everything as a close-knit group. Somehow I became the go-to girl. People would come to me for advice and tutoring (and they still do a whole year after completing the LPC). I realised that the little I did know could potentially help others.

I love the challenge of finding a better was of being more efficient and effective in what I do - particularly with regards to organisation - a form of personal development. As my family says - organisation has always been and will always be my first love. This has become significantly worse since being employed and I think this is noticeable in my writing. My writing is inspired by inspiring and helping others. For me, the actual process of writing it is the enjoyable/soothing experience for me, the content might as well benefit others.

Do you tend to look back through your old posts and reminisce or, once published, do you never revisit old content again?
I look back every once in a while - mainly to say OMG what was I thinking....

But generally speaking a don't look through it too much - my blog isn't really used as a journal but more of a companion for my personal development and challenges - which is a journey.

A Law Actually Interview with… Lost London Law Student

Lost London Law Student is next up to field the questions:

Where in your list of priorities does your blawg feature?
Somewhere in between getting a new job, finishing my dissertation and going out!

What’s your take on blawgs which spring up out of nowhere, blast us with x number of posts in quick succession and then disappear without trace?
I enjoy new blogs, much like I enjoy the smell of something that is new, such as getting into a brand new car for the first time. I don't know why these blogs disappear. Most of them have a lot of promise. The legal world is a small community, we all have made similar mistakes or hold similar gripes! We can all benefit from other bloggers remarks and postings. Perhaps these anon blogs were too scared about repercussions. I remember one blog that was taken down, due to something being posted about a fight and threats to sue!!

What’s your biggest regret about your blawg?
That I didn't blog as much as this year as I would have liked to. I made a few errors and some people cottoned on to who I was. The Bar is a very small world and everyone is inter-connected somehow, I didn't want anything I posted to somehow come back on me. A former lecturer once told to read out every sentence of an essay, and ask myself, would I be happy if the LCJ read it? I've taken a similar attitude towards blogging now.

I also had, (what I thought at the time as) a prestigious job, so I thought I would limit anything that I posted. However after being recently being made unemployed for the next year, perhaps I will find time to blog again!

I also remember being a lot feistier in the old days, my blog was for those that were "lost" and didn't quite know what to do with themselves. It was also an out pore for all the people I hated at university. The geeks and the swots who always ran up to speak to Professors right at the end of a lecture etc. It was when I realised sometime during my third year, that I had become one of these people ( I had to otherwise I wouldn't have got a decent reference!)

You tend to use your blawg as a bit of a sounding-board for your career plans.  Do you find the feedback and advice you receive useful?  Has it shaped your career path in any way?
The posts you mention, have highlighted why blawging is such a good idea. I have received many comments from anonymous people to regular bloggers. All of the feedback has helped me weigh up the different pros and cons of each decision. I am very indecisive when it comes to any particular career plan. Many other bloggers have been through similar experiences and more than happy to share their wisdom.

What are the 3 golden rules of blawging in your opinion?

1. Anonymity

- This isn't a problem for many, but if you wish to be a care free blogger, make sure you don't mention too much about yourself.

2. Keep it short.

I like to read blogs, but when a post takes me more than 3 minutes to get the gist of, I switch off and feel like I am reading a case!

3. Have fun

Blogging should be about having fun. Addressing your rant/quote/wisdom of the day. If only I had posted about my first year at Uni!!

It is also really valuable to have a personal account of what you were doing/feeling at the time, even if it is a bit cringeworthy!

A Law Actually Interview with… Little Tiny Pieces

Next up in the interview chair is Gemma from Little Tiny Pieces.

Little Tiny Pieces is an interesting name?  What it inspired it; does it have any hidden meanings?
I used to have an Etsy shop where I sold handmade craft supplies and the name fit my product range, which consisted of mini versions of things.  Although I am not updating my shop at present the name stuck and has now become my online identity. 

Unlike many blawgers in the ‘sphere, you tend to avoid blogging about legal subjects.  Do you think of Little Tiny Pieces as a blawg?  Is there a particular reason you tend to avoid legal topics?  Do you think that will change in the future - particularly given your plans to do  the GDL (and eventually the LPC)?
My blog tends to be my creative outlet as I have a mundane day job and I get incredibly frustrated without a form of creativity in my life.  I suppose Little Tiny Pieces isn't a "Blawg" in the more traditional sense however I anticipate it will become more law-related as I embark on the GDL/LPC.  At present I am in the process of transferring from ILEX to the GDL so there is an unusually quiet period in my life which allows me to focus on my creative pursuits and I think this is reflected in my choice of blogging subjects at the moment. 

What motivates you to update your blog?
I have had a blog of some description for about 6 years and my biggest motivation has always been to share things that I enjoy with my readers.  I love reading comments and building up relationships with my readers/subscribers.  I also find blogging is a form of therapy for me; a way to be creative, sound off, test out ideas or celebrate the things I love!

Your blog cuts a very artistic and creative style. Do you tend to play about with the layout and design a lot?
As I have mentioned, I have had a blog for about 6 years and I have switched hosts, tried out new layouts and designs numerous times.  I have now found a host and layout that works for me however I often"tweak" things, experiment with a new colour scheme or add new pages. 

If you had to describe your blog in 3 words, what would they be?
Visual, Quirky, Inspired

Let the voting commence!

Yes, after two long weeks of nominations, the shortlist for the 2010 Blawggies has been decided and voting for the awards can officially begin! The polls will remain open for 2 weeks.

You can place your votes here

The rules are simple enough: one vote for each of the 8 categories for the blawg you’d like to win.  As before, please don’t vote for your own blawg.

As democratically determined by the ‘sphere, the shortlist of nominees for each category consist of:

Best Newcomer'

All About Law

Badboybarrister

Garrulous Law

Govan Law Centre

Of interest to lawyers

The Justice of the Peace Blog

Ups and Gowns

Your Law Student

 

'Best Design'

Absolvitor

Aimless Wanderer

Android's Reminiscences

Barmaid

Law Actually

LawDent

Lawminx

Nearly Legal

 

'Best Blawging Regular'

Android’s Reminiscences

Charon QC*

Jack of Kent**

Law Actually

Landlord Law

The Magistrate’s Blog

Travis the Trout


'Best supporting role (i.e. commentators only)'

Anya

Beth

Legally Ginge

that famous commentator, Anonymous!


'Best Legal Commentary'

Charon QC*

Head of Legal

Jack of Kent**

Jonathan Mitchell QC

The IPKat

Law Actually

Legal Costs Blog (by GWS)

Nearly Legal

Pink Tape

Scots Law Student

'Triumph over Adversity'

Aimless Wanderer

Lawminx

Travis the Trout

'Blawg of the Year'

Android's Reminiscences

BabyBarista

Charon QC*

Family Lore

Law Actually

The Magistrate’s Blog

Marilyn Stowe Family Law and Divorce Blog

Pupillage and how to get it

Will I Be Barred?


'Services to Blawging'

Android's Reminiscences

Charon QC*

Law Actually

---

*Attention all voters - Update to Blawggies 2010*

 

** Jack of Kent has requested that his blawg is removed from the short-list.

*Charon QC has asked for his blawg to be removed from the short-list, as he wishes to maintain a consistent stance in relation to all blawgging awards. Accordingly, this blawg no longer features in the short-list for the 2010 Blawggies and you can no longer vote for it.

Please note: if you have voted for Charon QC in any of the 4 categories he was nominated for, these votes will be omitted from the final count. However, the votes you may have cast at the same time for other blogs in other categories will still be counted.

A Law Actually Interview with… Paralegal Hell

Yes, it’s time for my first interview with a non-UK blawger.  Exciting stuff!  Let’s jump straight to the questions.

How did Paralegal Hell come about? 
I always enjoyed reading lawyer and law student blogs, especially the ones that have a sense of humor about themselves, but noticed that there were no Paralegal blogs written in the same humorous tone.  We have Paralegal blogs, but mostly they are how to make your job easier, or spotlight different Paralegals, which is great, but none that actually talked about our jobs on a day to day basis. 

Needing a place to vent, I started Paralegal Hell.   I'm all for tips, Paralegals in the news, etc, but it is a blog, not a staff meeting.

How much time and attention do you devote to blawgging?  Do you think about your blawg when you aren’t actively blawgging and plan ahead as to posting topics etc.? 
I have been on a roll since starting and have about two to three posts per day, but that is because the jokes come to me on a daily basis.  Whether it is sparring with Boss or taking a client phone call, the posts just write themselves.  I don't think about the blog unless I am posting and I don't plan topics.  Whatever I write is usually on the fly.

I do try to mix humor and serious topics, but as far as planning what I write, I usually just get into the office and start blogging when I get a free moment.

I'm sure everyone wants me to ask this one. Which is better, the UK or the US blawgosphere.  And why? 
You know, this is going to sound so PC, but both have their " different sense of style".  I do have to say that the UK blawgs have really embraced my writing, while it has taken some time to get other Paralegals in the US to actually comment on my site.  I still feel the cold shoulder from some US Paralegal sites.  Most read my blog, but there is not a chance in hell that they would let me link to their blog.  I wrote about this in a post called Hurt Feelings.

Do you actively explore the ‘sphere looking for new blawgs or do you prefer just letting others find you? 
I do both.  I look at blogs that I read, look at their blog rolls and see if there is anything that can make me laugh or if I click with someone's writing.  If that is the case, I usually send an email asking if I could link their site to my blog roll.  So far, the only "no's" have come from certain Paralegal sites in the US, two of which are my top readers, although I doubt they know I know that information.

If someone emails me and asks for a link, I always very flattered and usually say yes, unless it is a Paralegal school.

How do you see Paralegal Hell shaping up in the future?
I hope that I inspire more Paralegals to blog about their own day to day jobs.  I really would love to read more Paralegal blogs, but there are not many out there.  Of course, none can be as awesome as mine :)

A Law Actually Interview with… Ramblings of a Scottish Student

Next up to be interviewed is Alistair, over at Ramblings of a Scottish Student.

You recently broke cover and revealed your true identity to the 'sphere. How do you feel that has gone?  Any regrets?  Do you recommend it?
In all honesty not much has changed.  I do need to be a lot more careful about what I say now as everything can be attributed to me and that could cause problems.  To date though I have no regrets and I think it has gone okay personally.  As for whether I recommend it or not, I feel that it is a matter for the individual blawger. 

How do you balance law and other topics when posting?
No real science to it to be honest, I blog about what I want when I feel like it.

You're one of the few UK blawgers who have extended their reach into the 'sphere beyond conventional posting with your foray into podcasting.  Will they be making a reappearance at some point?  Do you see the conventional written blawg becoming less and less relevant (and popular) over time?
I'd like to go back to podcasting, but at the moment I don't have sufficient time.  This may change when I return to University in September, 

The second part of your questions is very interesting.  Social Media has changed drastically even in the last 18 months since I became involved in it.  Twitter and such like were only really beginning to take shape and spread.  I don't think that the conventional written blawg will become irrelevant, it's useful for exploring more complex issues and other platforms such as Twitter don't always give you sufficient room to express what you want to say.  The conventional blawg will still be around for the foreseeable future, but I suspect that it will be joined by other forms of social media.  There are exciting things happening within social media in the legal world. 

I expect that over the next few years we'll see social media being embraced more and more within the legal profession.  The current students and those who will be undertaking their LLB in the future will be more used to using social media and the latest technology and I don't think the profession will be able to resist its integration.

I know you had a run-in with a legal publication on your blawg last year, which resulted in them asking you to take certain content down.  Has that changed your approach to blawging at all?
My run in was actually with a very senior lawyer, rather than the publication.  They too were on the receiving end of this lawyer’s threats of legal action.  Blogging is dangerous, we are still accountable under the Law like another type of written publication, and as such defamation/libel laws still apply.  I'm slightly more cautious about what I write and more pro-active about contacting people for statements when blogging about potentially controversial issues.

Finally, how do you explore and consume content within the 'sphere?  (an RSS reader - if so, which one - or just through browsing around?)
I don’t use an RSS reader.  I have a list of blogs that I like to read (both legal and non-legal) saved in a favourites list and as and when I get the time I pay them a visit.  I discover new ones through those blogs and through Twitter.

A Law Actually Interview with… Andro

Yes, my interview adventures continue with Andro stepping up to face the questions.

You’ve designed some great looking blawgs for various members of the ‘sphere.  What makes a good blog design in your opinion and where do you get your inspiration from?
The main thing about a blog is content, so the design shouldn't interfere with it. The main thing for me is readability. No conflicting colours or too much contrast. No fancy fonts. The design needs to be unique and memorable.

I get my inspiration from the world around me! Sometimes I would see an interesting combination of colours on the street. Music plays a big part in the design process. I also get my inspiration from websites such as http://www.smashingmagazine.com/

You take a very open approach to your identity when blawgging and certainly don’t shy away from revealing who you are.  Do you ever regret that or ever feel sandboxed by what you can / cannot blawg about?
I don't feel sandboxed, because Android's Reminiscences is just one blog. Internet is a bottomless pit, so there's nothing stopping me from creating a new anonymous blog, should I feel the need to do so. But... now that I have a job that I care about, I am a bit more careful in what I blog about on A.R. I always think about the possibility of my colleagues or, God forbid, my boss finding it by accident (my readers will be aware that my blog came up on a pupillage interview once; awkward). I obviously try to avoid breaching client confidentiality or defaming my firm, but a little bitching about my boring job duties won't hurt, will it?

Could you imagine yourself suddenly not blawgging one day.  Why?
On days like that I feel like I have nothing to add to the blogosphere. I don't like blogging for the sake of it.

Where do you see the future of blawgging going?  Does it even have a future?  Will other forms of social media take over?
Because we are so busy nowadays, everyone has a shorter attention span, which is why twitter and facebook are gaining popularity over the traditional blogging. There's just too much reading and not enough interactivity. The blogs, with their once revolutionary rss feeds, are becoming too static and dull for the web 3.0 generation. I think that traditional blogging does have a future though. Firstly, the blog platforms are constantly being developed to keep up with the latest web-technology. Secondly, blogs seem to be replacing magazines and newspapers, and it's only the beginning. Thirdly, there will always be people who resist change.

If a new law student approached you for advice on starting a blawg, what would you say?
I would definitely recommend it, as long as it doesn't interfere with the studies. Ha! Just kidding. No, really - it's a great idea, if only to read it back in a few years and laugh at yourself.

A Law Actually Interview with… Pooni

My second interviewee is Pooni.  Let’s jump straight in with the questions. 

What’s your take on anonymity when it comes to blawging?

It definitely does not exist anymore, unless the profile you keep online is extremely unique and or kept under a different alias name

If the blawgosphere imploded tomorrow, what would you miss most?

The thing I'll miss the most is knowing that I have supporters in terms of view counts and commenters. I found it easier to deal with being jobless when I knew others were in the same situation (but twitter has taken over this part in a way now)

What’s the secret to a good blawg, do you think?

Up to date, interesting information. Always finding out something new and different helps too (as a reader)

What was your worst blawging experience?

Most probably the abuse you get from commenters who don't agree with the writer (the solicitor post I did got the most abuse) and knowing that some people no longer blog because of this (sorta relates to the anonymity of the writer being found out)

Do you see yourself in the blawgsphere in 5 years time?

Right now, no. I think blogging has always been a hobby and as I have free time I blog. I don't think I'll have enough time in the future but I would like to keep blogging about my career to help others as I never had the opportunity to see blogs etc about the legal profession when I was studying (yes I feel old now!)

A Law Actually Interview with… Aimless Wanderer

As part of my spread the blawgin’ lovin’ campaign, I’ve decided to conduct a few ‘remote interviews’ with key members of the blawgosphere.

The idea is to hopefully reveal a little more of the blawgers behind the blawgs which make up the ‘sphere.  I’m hoping it’ll prove an interesting way of exploring and understanding the glue that holds (sometimes a touch tenuously) the blawgosphere together.  It might also go some way in making blogging more accessible to newbies or encourage wannabee blawgers to have a go.  If nothing else, though, I hope it’ll provide some interesting insights into the fascinating personalities within the ‘sphere - which we might not have otherwise got.

My first interview is with Aimless Wanderer.

How did you  get into blawging?
My friend, CBC, first got me into blawging while I was still at University... but I deleted my blog within the year. I returned to blawging as an LPC student following my Dad's funeral. I felt extremely isolated at the time as it was difficult to talk to friends and some "friends" even started to avoid me. A few good friends kept me going but I felt guilty for unloading on them so much... felt really awful. I tried to keep a diary/journal but was too scared that someone in my family might read it and be upset by it. So I suppose, I started blawging again to be less of a burden on my friends and felt safe in the knowledge that my sisters and brother would never (and probably will never) come across my blog.

How do your friends / family view your blawging activities? 
My family are completely unaware that I am a blawgger but if they found out they might be upset at how open I've been - especially at me posting the euology (since those words weren't mine alone). My friends don't really know (apart from my good friend CBC and a joking barrister I trust). Theres one other that knows who I introduced to blawging while at university and she liked Andro's design! Oh and one other... I told a girl who became a friend of mine on the LPC (Greek Girl). Not sure if shes ever read it though. Couldn't ever tell Poppins who I met shortly after Dad became ill and who I trust with my life... she'd be shocked if she knew I'd managed to fall a little bit in love with my tutor! CBC thinks I'm brave while I think I'm slightly stupid for being so damn honest...

Where do you get your blawging inspiration from?
Nowhere really. My blog has ended up becoming an online journal... I don't think too much about what I write. I just write.

If you could change one thing about the blawgosphere, what would it be?
I hate questions like these and have no idea what I'd change. Sorry!

Are you hoping to continue blawging avidly during your New York adventures? If so, do you think you'll break into the US blawgosphere?
I do hope to continue blawging while I'm New York but once I leave the UK, my current blawg will be closed for the year and I hope my readers will follow my wanderings in the Big Apple via my new blawg. I have to buy a new laptop once I get there which may take some time (and of course there the whole settling in and making friends period) but once I have it expect lots of posts and there'll be lots of photos too as I'll be investing in a cheap but cheerful camera!! I'm not sure I'll manage to break into the US blawgosphere... unless they have a US version of you, Michael! Maybe someone will take me under their wing?!